Omaha
Pittsburg State
Welhouse's Buzzer Beater Bests Pittsburg State, 82
Jan 19, 2011 | General, Men's Basketball
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Listen to the game-winning shot
PITTSBURG, Kan. -- Sophomore forward Alex Welhouse hit the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer, guiding the UNO men's basketball team to an 82-79 win over PIttsburg State on Wednesday night. With the victory, the Mavericks improve to 10-5 (7-4 MIAA) on the year, as they have won seven of their last eight contests for third place in the league. Pittsburg State, which has dropped three straight losses, is now 9-6 (5-6 MIAA).
Five Mavericks finished in double figures, led by senior guard Tyler Bullock, who had 17 points. Welhouse scored all 15 of his points from long range, going 5-for-9, while junior guard Mitch Albers and redshirt freshman center John Karhoff each had 14. Senior guard Torrian Harris added 12 points, and he and Karhoff each pulled down a team-best five rebounds. Bullock and Albers both dished out six assists apiece, with Albers' mark a career high.
PSU was topped by Eric Ray's 16 points, while Eric Marshall had 15 and Andra Bailey contributed 10 points with five boards. The two teams shot almost evenly, with UNO (53 percent) just ahead of the Gorillas (52 percent).
Pittsburg State opened with a 12-4 run, and the eight-point margin was its largest of the game. Bullock dropped in a 3-pointer to help UNO overtake the Gorillas for the first time all night at 13-12. Threes were the name of the game in the first half, as Welhouse's fourth triple put UNO up 27-21. Harris then had two charity shots and Albers and redshirt freshman Matt Hagerbaumer each notched a bucket to extend it to a 10-point lead. But Pittsburg State used a 13-4 run to close the half, capped by Ray, who hit a shot at the buzzer, and the Mavericks clung to a 37-36 lead heading into the locker room.
PSU came out firing after the intermission, taking a 49-39 advantage three minutes in. Albers banked in a trey, and Karhoff and Bullock both went 2-for-2 in free throw attempts, bringing it to 49-46 PSU. After a jumper by Jordan Embers increased it to a seven-point margin, UNO stormed back to tie it at 55-55 with a jump shot from Harris. The Gorillas, however, would not go down without a fight, twice taking seven-point advantages again.
Minutes later, Steffensmeier hit his first shot of the night and chipped in a pair of free throws, tying it at 72-all. Harris put the Mavs on top with an offensive rebound and putback, and after another tie, three points from Bullock put UNO back in control at 77-74. PSU's Javon McGee kept his team in the mix with three points of his own.
The Mavs retook a narrow 79-77 lead, and Ray came right back with a jumper to match the score at 79-79. With the final seven seconds ticking down, Welhouse made a heroic 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving Nebraska-Omaha an 82-79 win -- its second victory at the buzzer this season.
UNO returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 22, hosting Washburn. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Sapp Fieldhouse.
